Vote Forward has a plan to help make sure Democrats win back the House of Representatives in November, 2018. We’re organizing volunteers to stockpile heartfelt, handwritten “please vote” letters. Here’s what you need to know:
1. LETTERS WORK
In the Alabama Senate special in 2017, turnout among letter recipients was 3.9 percentage points higher vs. a control group (3.4 percentage points after controlling for age, gender, and other factors in an analysis by Analyst Institute). In a larger experiment in Ohio’s 12th district in August, we saw a 1.44 percentage point effect [analysis by Annie Wang]. These are big effects. By contrast, the Analyst Institute assesses the likely impact of an average phone-banking campaign in the midterms to be ~0.4 percentage points. The upshot: letter-writing may turn out to be one of the most effective GOTV tactics. You should absolutely make phone calls, knock on doors, and messages particularly the last weekend before the election. But if you’re looking to maximize your impact with an activity you can do at any time and from home, you should do this too.
2. THEY’RE EASY AND FAST
Letters take just 90 seconds each to prepare. So if you have a demanding schedule, or you live too far from a swing district to go there and canvas in person, or if you’re an introvert, this is for you. (And if you’re an extrovert, even better — throw a letter-writing party and invite some friends!)
3. THE IMPACT COULD BE DRAMATIC
We have addresses for hundreds of thousands of unlikely voters in key swing districts, people who are unlikely to vote, but who, if they do vote, are very likely to vote for Democrats. This could be enough all on its own to win some close races we otherwise would have lost. The primary focus is on the House of Representatives, but in many of our target districts (Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona) letters will also help in some key Senate and Governor’s races.
4. LEGIONS OF VOLUNTEERS ARE HELPING
Vote Forward is the recommended activity for introverts on both Crush the Midterms and Multiply Your Vote (hat tip to national treasure Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Thousands of volunteers are stockpiling an avalanche of letters to send to key districts on October 30.
5. YOU CAN HELP, TOO!
Even a handful of letters can make a difference. Do your part to turn the political tide in 2018. Sign up at www.votefwd.org. THANK YOU!
